Sliding tray packages



Aug. 6, 1968 E. D. GILLAM 3,395,849

SLIDING TRAY PACKAGES Filed May 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWARD D. GILL/1M ATTORNEY ited States Patent 3,395,849 SLIDING TRAY PACKAGES Edward D. Gillam, Penn Valley, Pa., assignor to Comly- Gillam Carton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 11, 1966, Ser. No. 549,341 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-19) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package having an outer receptacle in the form of a sleeve with creases along the edge portions, the creases having longitudinally elongated gripping portions extending inwardly and engaging side margins of an inner receptacle. The inner receptacle optionally has a tray with a bottom wall and framing portions with opposite pairs of side wall portions hinged to the bottom wall, the framing portions being movable from fiat positions to assembled positions with slitted portions in top wall panels and inner side wall panels into which ends of side wall panels are vertically slidable for assembly and retention.

This invention relates to packages and more particularly to improvements in interrelated outer receptacles, such as boxes and sleeves and inner receptacles, such as trays.

It has heretofore been proposed to use outer receptacles, in the form of sleeves closed at one or both ends into which objects such as closely fitting trays or the like are inserted for protection and retention of the contents of the tray. Such sleeves were in many instances not adequately retentive of the inserted objects because of a loose fit, or if they were too firmly retained difficulties were encountered upon the insertion or removal or both.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide improvements in interrelated outer receptacles such as sleeves or boxes and inner receptacles such as trays for use with outer receptacles, as well as in the trays themselves.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a receptacle, made of paperboard or similar materials, which can be in the form of a sleeve or closed end box, and which has provisions for high speed entry of the tray or the like together with a good gripping action which is effective after entry.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a receptacle for articles such as a tray or the like which has a portion permitting ready insertion and other portions which frictionally grip and hold the inserted article but permit withdrawal of the article if desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sleeve which may be closed at one end and having at least one flexible internal dimension to accommodate variable dimensions which occur in set up trays.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of framed tray for use with the receptacle previously referred to.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of framed tray having a wider field of application and with pairs of folding side framing portions movable to assembled positions and in which one pair of side framing portions has a stripping action and cammed engagement with another pair of side framing portions.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an outer receptacle and inner receptacle or tray in accordance with the invention, the tray being partially inserted;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing an outer receptacle and inner receptacle with the inner receptacle in fully inserted position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, enlarged, as seen from the open insertion side;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for making an inner receptacle or tray used in connection with the invention, and prior to gluing;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the tray in partially set up condition; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the tray in fully set up condition.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an outer receptacle 10 is provided which can be a closed end box but merely by way of illustration is shown as an open ended sleeve of paperboard or the like. The outer receptacle 10 as illustrated has a pair of spaced opposite walls 11 and spaced opposite connecting side walls 12 and with a glue flap 13 in engagement with the interior of one of the walls 12.

In accordance with the invention, the walls 11 and 12 at their junctions are connected along crease lines 14. The crease lines 14, along their front portions, and for about the first quarter of their length have a relatively small or shallow crease as at 15 extending inwardly and for the remainder of their length have a deeper and clinging crease, as at 16, extending inwardly. The depth of the creases 15 and 16 may be varied as desired but for a particular embodiment the creases 15 can be formed by a rule with a width of two points (0.031 inch) and the creases 16 can be formed by a rule with a width of six points (0.093 inch).

An inner receptacle 17 which advantageously is a tray made of paperboard or the like, suitable for use with the outer receptacle 10, preferably has side wall panels 18 spaced apart, a distance slightly less than the spacing between the walls 12 of the outer receptacle 10 and with marginal portions 19 and 20 spaced to provide a depth slightly less than the distance between the walls 11 to permit the insertion and removal of the inner receptacle 17 as hereinafter explained.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 6, 7 .and 8, of the drawings, the inner receptacle 17 can be made from a blank 25 of paperboard or the like finished on one face for printing and with cut lines and crease lines to provide the desired size and shape.

The blank 25 preferably includes a bottom wall panel 26, shown as rectangular and of a size and shape to conform to the outer receptacle 10 if it is used with an outer receptacle.

The panel 26 has joined thereto, on opposite sides thereof along crease lines 19 which provide lower margins, the side wall panels 18 which are preferably rectangular in shape. The side wall panels 18 have connected thereto along crease lines 20 which provide upper margins of the wall panels 18, top wall panels 27, preferably substantially rectangular in shape with partially inwardly tapered marginal edges 28. The panels 27 have hingedly connected thereto along crease lines 29, inner wall panels 30 which are preferably substantially rectangular in shape with relieved corners 31.

The inner wall panels 30 preferably have glue flaps 32 connected thereto along crease lines 33 which lines are perforated or otherwise weakened to facilitate bending therealong. The glue fiaps 32 are bent as desired for securing by gluing to the bottom wall panel 26, this gluing being capable of accomplishment on folding and gluing machines of well known types. It is preferred that the glue flaps 32 extend toward each other from the crease lines 33 along the bottom wall panel 26 to provide a controlled resilient elevation of the wall panels 18, 27 and 30, as hereinafter explained.

The bottom wall panel 26 has joined thereto along crease lines 35 which provide lower margins, outer side wall panels 36, preferably rectangular in shape. The side wall panels 36 have connected thereto along crease lines 37 which provide upper margins of the wall panels 36, top wall panels 38 which are preferably trapezoidal in shape.

The wall panels 38 have hingedly connected thereto along crease lines 39 inner side wall panels 40.

The side wall panels 40 have curved marginal edge portions 41 of nose shape for a stripping and camming acton, inclined intermediate side marginal edge portions 42 for a camming action, and lower side marginal portions 43 which may serve as stops.

The side wall panels 40 preferably have glue flaps 44 connected thereto along crease lines 45 which lines are perforated or otherwise weakened to facilitate bending therealong. The glue flaps 44 are bent, as desired, for securing by gluing to the bottom wall panel 26 on conventional folding and gluing machines. The glue flaps 44 are shown as extending away from each other from the crease lines 45 along the bottom wall panel 26 to provide a controlled resilient elevation of the wall panels 36, 38 and 40. This disposition of the glue flaps 44 and the disposition of the glue flaps 32 as previously set forth, permits the wall panels 36, 38 and 40 to move up when free to do so for positioning of the wall panels 18, 27 and 30.

It is preferred to provide resilient and frictional holding structure for retaining the wall panels 36, 38 and 40, and the wall panels 18, 27 and 30 in their set up condition and for this purpose the panels 27 and 30 have angularly disposed cut lines 48 in intersecting flat V relation to and on both sides of the crease lines 29 providing slitted portions. The cut lines 48 have, at their outer ends, short cut lines 49 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The cut lines 48 have arcuate cut lines 50 in bowed relation thereto providing cam edges to guide the margins 41, 42 and 43 with resilient shoulders 51 bounded by the cut lines 49, and lower resilient shoulders 52.

If the outer receptacle 10 is not closed at both ends the end at which the inner receptacle 17 is to be inserted can be provided with finger cut outs 53 in the wall panels 11 which serve to identify the entry end and also facilitate the removal of the inner receptacle 17.

The mode of use of the inner receptacle 17 and of the outer receptacle 10 will now be pointed out.

The inner receptacle 17, after assembly and gluing in the manner previously indicated, can be shipped in flattened condition to the place of filling.

When it is desired to utilize the receptacle 17 it is set up by moving the wall panels 36 and 40 of opposite side sets to upright positions. This is facilitated by the resiliency of the hinging thereof.

The wall panels 18 and 30 are then moved toward their set up position. This movement is facilitated not only by the resiliency of the hinging thereof but by the camming action of the upper side marginal edges 41 and the intermediate side marginal edges 42 upon engagement 4 with the curved cut lines 50, and by the engagement of the edge portion 28 with the panels 36.

The upper inner marginal edge portions 41 and 42 are guided to their seated positions, with the resilient shoulders 51 in resilient gripping engagement therewith urging them against the edge provided by the cut lines 48. At the same time the tongues 52 resiliently grip the lower portion-s of the intermediate side marginal edge portions 42. The lower marginal edges 43 have the panels 27 and 30 abutting thereagainst, these edges 43 serving as limit stops.

With the inner receptacles 17 in set up condition a tray is provided of the picture frame or shadow box-type and the desired contents can be placed therein. The inner receptacle can be used in set up form and can have a transparent plastic shrunk cover applied thereto if desired.

The receptacle 17 just described is particularly suitable for use with the outer receptacle 10 described above and with the Walls 18 disposed along the side Walls 12. The finger cut outs 53 indicate the location for insertion of the inner receptacle 17 Upon initial insertion of the inner receptacle and while the margins 19 and 20 are advanced along the inner corners at the shallow crease lines 15, free and unrestrained movement is available. This makes for high speed entry of the inner receptacles 17 thus improving the packaging operations.

When the margins 19 and 20 engage the innermost of the separated plies at the deeper crease lines 16 a flexible frictional gripping with a clinging and cushioning action is provided which gives good gripping and holding so that accidental separation of the inner and outer receptacle 17 and 10 cannot occur. The crease lines 16 frictionally accommodate to variations in sizes of the trays or inner receptacles.

I claim:

1. A package comprising an outer receptacle having side walls meeting at edges,

an inner receptacle for insertion into said outer receptacle and having spaced margins,

said outer receptacle edges having a plurality of longitudinally elongated inwardly extending edge portions for engagement with said inner receptacle margins,

certain of said edge portions extending inwardly to a greater extent than others of said edge portions and continuously providing a differential longitudinally extended holding action with respect to said inner receptacle.

2. A package as defined in claim 1 in which said outer receptacle has an end for entry of said inner receptacle, and

said edge portions closer to said end extend inwardly to a lesser extent than the edge portions more remote from said end.

3. A package as defined in claim 1 in which said outer receptacle includes a tubular portion with opposite pairs of side walls.

4. A package as defined in claim 3 in which said inner receptacle is a tray with side walls bounded by said margins.

5. A package as defined in claim 3 in which said inner receptacle is a tray with opposite pairs of hingedly mounted side walls, and

one pair of side walls is movable along the side walls of the outer receptacle.

6. A package comprising a tray having a bottom wall,

opposite pairs of side wall sections hingedl mounted on said bottom wall and movable from fiat positions to upright positions,

said side wall sections of each pair having an outer side wall panel hinged to said bottom wall, an inner side wall panel hingedly secured to said bottom wall and a top wall panel hingedl connecting said side wall panels,

the inner wall panels and top wall panels of one pair having slitted portions for relatively horizontal slida'ble movement thereinto of marginal edge portions of inner side wall panels of the other pair upon movement of said pairs to upright positions.

7. A package as defined in claim 6 in which said outer side wall panels provide outside margins of said tray, and

said inner side wall panels and said bottom wall provide an article receiving space.

8. A package as defined in claim 6 in which said slitted portions have resilient gripping members engaging said marginal edge portions.

9. A package as defined in claim 6 in which said slitted portions have cam edges therealong for guiding said marginal edge portions to set up position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,957 10/193 8 Mahone 22919 2,751,135 6/1956 Kessler 2299 2,735,982 7/1956 Vanderlugt 22919 2,925,211 2/ 1960 Frankenstein 22934 3,122,299 2/1964 Haas 22934 3,185,662 5/1965 De Fed 229--34 3,227,355 1/ 1966 Davidson 22934 15 DAVIS T. MOOREHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

